Sound-box for machines for recording and reproducing sound.



No. 898,201. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

, J. 0. ENGLISH. SOUND BOX FOR MAGHINES FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUGINGSOUND.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27, 1906.

aftozmug UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. ENGLISH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR TALKINGMACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 27, 1906. Serial No: 808,224.

. Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Camden, State of New Jersey, have inventedcertain new anduseful Impirovements in Sound-Boxes for Machines fore'cording'and Reproducing Sound, of. which the following is a full,clear, and complete disclosure.

My invention relates to the sound box for use 1n machines for recordingand reproducing sound and particularly to the diaphragm of such soundboxes and to the means for positioning or adjusting, and for.securing'the same within the sound box.

The object ofmy invention is to rovide a diaphragm for a sound box inwhic no specia care or skill is re uired to accurately position orad'ust the diaphragm in its proper position wit the sound box and tosecure the diaphragm in such adjusted position without the use ofgaskets or elastic-rings or similar means;

A further object of my invention is to constr uct a diaphra m of such ashape that the same is not liable to become distorted and subjected tounevenly distributed strains whenplaced within-the sound box, but tostiffen the same both at the edges or periphery and also at the centerthereof in order to more accurately and faithfully transmit thevibrations of sound or speech, and'to improve the uality and quantity ofthe sound or speec reproduced from a recording surface.

Further objects of my invention'will ap-' pear in the fol owingspecification and claims.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a partthereof, Fi ure 1 represent corresponding parts.

is an end view of a sound box provide with my improved diaphragmyFig. 2is a transverse lon 'tudinal section thereof on the line 22 of ig. 1; Fi3 is a similar sectional view of a modifie form of diaphragm and Fig. 4is also alongitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the diaphragmand of the manner of securing the same within the sound box.

Similar numerals in the different figures 1 indicates a sound box ofanysuitable type rovided on its back side with a short soun conveyingtube 2 by which it may be secured in a suitable manner to the swingingsound conveying tube of a sound recording or reproducing machine.

3 represents the upper end ot a stylus bar of any suitable descriptionand 4 the connec-- tion between the stylus bar and the diaphragm. I

The diaphragm 5 consists of a disk 6 provided with an integralcylindrical flange 7 extending from the eriphery of said disk normal tothe plane 0 the diaphragm. The diaphragm may be described as being inthe orm of a shallow cup shaped body having cylindrical sides. I maymake this diaphragm of any suitable metal, such as steel, hosphor bronzeor German silver and I may orm the same either by the use of dies, or byspinnin the edges of a planchet or disk to form t 1e cylindrical flanes. The diaphragm so formed is inserte within the inner bore of thesound box so that theedge of the flange or side of the cup shaped bodyrests against the back 1 of said sound box,

the outer diameter of the said cylindrical flange fitting snugly withinsaid sound box and holding the diaphragm securely in position. In order,however, to make sure that there will be no space between the outersurface of the flange7 and. the inner surface of the sound box whichmight result in the production of undesirable sounds due to thevibrations of the flange and its consequent intermittent contact withthe walls of the sound box, I may lace a small quantity of suitablecement wit in the sound box and adj acent the back wall 1 thereof beforethe diaphragm is ressed down into position within the sound ox.-

A diaphragm made, in the manner described, is not liable to becomedistorted or lose its shape either before or after it is placed withinthe sound box, the cylindrical flange operating to stiffen the edge ofthe same in addition to forming a suflicient surface by which thediaphragm may be retained within the sound box.

By accurately determining the depth .of flange 7, the proper distancebetween the disk like portion 6 of the diaphragm and the back 1' of thesound box may be made uniform and of a distance found by actualexperiment to be suited for the production of the best results. Nospecial care need be taken in assembling the sound box to adjust roperdistance from the back of the sound box since the flange 7 of itself byits contact,

with the back of the sound box determines the said distance.

-The diaphragm may be provided with a stifiened center by pressing orspinning the depressed portion 8 at the center thereof. Said depressedportion preferably extends in a direction away from the end of-thestylus bar in order that the connection 4 may be made as long aspossible to secure elasticity in the same. Such a diaphragm is shown inFigs. 2 and 3. I may, moreover, stiffen the center of the diaphragm bypressing or spinning concentric rings 9 in the body of the diaphragm,thus rendering the diaphragm insensible to those vibrations WlllCl'l arenot true harmonic curves and are caused by the inaccurate action of thestylus bar and to the frictional contact between the bottom or sides ofthe sound groove and the stylus.

In order to obtain a firmer and more rigid connection between the flangeof the diaphragm and the sound box, I may provide the back of the soundbox with a circular channel 10 and Within which the flange 7 accuratelyfits, as plainly shown in Fig. 4, and a suitable cement may be placed insaid groove or on the adjacent surface of the sound box before thediaphragm is inserted.

I am aware that attempts have been made to use diaphragms withconcentric rings adjacent to the outer periphery for stiflening theouter edge and also that metallic diaphragm's have been made havingconcentric rings above and below the central line or axis thereof forthe purpose of giving amplitude to the center of the diaphragm and thatlater in order to produce the best results, it has been found necessaryto stiifen the'center of the diaphragm instead of making the centerhighly elastic. I have found, however, that by providing the diaphragmwith a stiffening flange at the peri hery thereof and by making suchflange of a sufficient depth to accuratel position the disk'like portionof the diapfliragm the back of the sound box and for securing andretaining contact between the outer cylindrical surface of the saidflange and the inside of said sound box, that a dia phragm so produced,transmits vibrations more accurately and faithfully than any of' theforms above referred to and moveover, enables. me to dispense entirelywith the usual gaskets or retaining rings formed of rubber or otherchangeable or perishable material. In this way sound boxes may beroduced with substantially uniform recor ing and reproducing qualitiesand without parts which are liable to'deteriorate.

While I have described one way in which my invention maybe put intefiect, I do not wish to be confined to the exact form or arrangement ofparts, since my invention conbore and concentric therewit 2. In a soundbox having a cylindrical bore, and a circular channel 0 ening into saidbore, a diaphra m provide with a cylindrical flan e at tIie eripherythereof tightly fittin wit in said Bore and extending into said 0 annel.1

3. In a sound box having a cylindrical bore, and a circular channel 0enin into said h,"a iaphragm provided with a cylindrical flange at theperiphery thereof tightly .fitting within said bore and filling saidchannel.

4. Ina sound box the combination with that part of sound box providedwith a sound; conveying opening and having a circular channel concentrictherewith, of a diaphragm provided with a cylindrical flange tangtightly within said channel.

' 5. n a sound box having a groove with side walls extendinglongitudinally of the box, a diaphragm having a flange at its peripherlyfitting ti htly within said groove.

6. n a sound ox provided with a bore, a

groove in said bore, a diaphragm having a flange inclined to the lane ofthe diaphragm and fitting tightly wit iin said groove.

7. Ina bored sound box provided with abore, a groove in said bore, adiaphragm having a flange inclined to the lane of the diaphragm andfitting tight y within said groove, the inclined side of said flangefitting tightl within the bore of said box.

8. n a sound box, the combination with a casing having a cylindricalbore therein, said bore opening in' the face of said casing, of adiaplhragm rovided with a cylindrical flange at t e perip ery thereofsnugly fitting within said bore.

9. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having acylindricalbore opening in the face thereof, of a diaphragm provided with aninwardly extending c lindrical flan e at the periphery thereof snug yfitting within said bore, the inner edge of said flange being in contactwith the back of said casing.

10. In asound box, the combination with a casing having acylindricalbore, of a diaphragm provided with an inwardly extendin cylindricalflange at the periphery thereo snugly fitting within said bore, theinner edge of said flange beingin contact with a portion of said casing.

11. In a sound box, the combination with a casing havin a bore openingin the face thereof, of a diaphragm having a flanged edge fitting snuglywithinsaid bore.

12. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having a bore openingin the face thereof, of a diaphra m havin an inwardly flanged edge snuly f itting wit in said bore, the inner edge 01 said flanged edge beingin contact with a portion of said casing.

13. In a sound box, the combination with a hollow casing, of a diaphragmhaving a flanged edge fitting snugly within said casing, and a stylusbar phonetically connected to said diaphragm, said diaphragm beingunrestrained between said flanged edge and the point of connection withsaid stylus bar.

14. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having a cylindricalbore, of adiaphragm havin a cylindrical flange integral therewith at t eedge thereof fittm snugly within said bore and a stylus barpioneticallyconnected to said diaphragm, said diaphragm being unrestrained betweensaid flanged edge and the point of connection with said stylus bar.

15. In a sound box, the combination with a casing having a cylindricalbore, of a diaphragm having a cylindrical flange at the peripherythereof fitting snugly in said bore, said diaphragm being in contactwith a portion of said casing extending inwardly from the cylindricalsurface of said bore to position said diaphragm.

16. In a sound box, the combination with a casing havinga bore 0 eningin the face thereof, of means carried by said diaphra m and extendinglaterally therefrom for ho ding said diaphragm snugly in position insaid bore.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set JOHN C. ENGLISH.

Witnesses:

' ALEXANDER PARK,

ALSTON B. MOULTON.

